COLUMBUS, Ohio — A truck fire led to road closures and evacuations Thursday morning, leading to questions about the transportation of hazardous materials.
The truck that caught fire was carrying lithium batteries.
What You Need To Know
- An evacuation order was lifted around 10 a.m. Thursday and no injuries were reported
- There are limited protocols on the law regarding transporting hazardous material
- The Ohio Public Utilities Commission oversees transportation safety when hazardous materials are transported on an interstate highway
The situation at one point shut down multiple roads and ramps, including McKinley Avenue at Grandview Avenue, all ramps to I-670 Eastbound and I-670 Westbound and the West Broad Street exit ramp onto I-70 west.
The Ohio Public Utilities Commission oversees transportation safety when hazardous materials are being transported on interstate highways. The agency employs hazardous materials specialists statewide to assist in emergency situations. Those specialists help with contamination control and assist with identifying what is deemed as hazardous material.
Trucks are supposed to register the materials with the Pipeline and hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Lithium batteries should be stored in a dry and cool location while being transported to their final locations. When hazardous materials like lithium batteries are in transport, they should be packed in fully enclosed interior packaging to prevent them from causing any damage or dangerous outcomes.
For more information regarding complying with federal hazardous material regulations, click here.